(silly question alert) possilbity of using camera as enlarger?

[pellicle]

Hi

now, I've heard this was perhaps done with some of the older large format cameras way way back, but I was wondering if this could be managed with something like an Ikontar or Bessar camera?

I was thinking that just that smidge larger than contact (say, fit onto a 10x15 postcard) would be nice.

thanks

 

[bdial]

No particular reason you can't do it with any camera if you can arrange a method of getting light through the negative, and the lens can focus closely enough for the print size you'd like to make. Something close to 1:1 might be stretching the focus capabilities of the camera, unless you can extend the lens mounting somehow.

I've seen a few pieces on making enlargers from cameras in some old photo magazines and hobbyist books I've run across.

 

[srs5694]

Here's a Web site out there that describes how to do this with a 35mm camera. I'm sure the same principles could be applied to other cameras.

 

[Ian Grant]

Graflex made an Enlarger head for their 5x4 cameras, and it was very much more common before WWII

Ian

 

[bdial]

Graflex made them as well for the 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 cameras. The Graflarger attachments used to show up fairly often on ebay, I suppose they still do, though I've not looked for a while. I have one with a broken lamp, and Aristo told me at the time they still have replacement tubes available for these.
FWIW.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Linhof also made cold light and condenser enlarger backs for 4x5" and 2x3", and I think there was a Rollei enlarger back.